XP intall

[mac309]

Can iinstall Windows xp Home using a complete version disk and use an unused licence from an OEM software disk.? Or will the OEM disk be ok as i'm not a developer?

[vehelpfulguy]

I am not sure I fully understand your question, but I will explain what OEM means and that may help.

You do not need to be a developer to use the OEM version of Windows XP Home.

The OEM version of Windows XP Home is the same as the retail boxed version you can buy in places like PC World.

The OEM version is just the disk without the box or packaging and is supplied to companies like Dell and IBM for them to pre-install on their computers.

It stand for Other Equipment Manufacturers.

[dodgyshirt]

Further to vehelpfulguy's excellent answer, it is most unlikely that a license key from an OEM disk will work with a retail version as these are usually manufacturer-specific keys.

Also different Service Pack versions will require keys from different series.

Go ahead and use the OEM disk but make sure that you opt for 'Automatic Windows Updates' not manual or Microsoft does a product validation and warns you that your hardware does not match the license key series.

Automatic updates avoids this check.

[lebesset]

OEM doesn't stand for other equipment manufacturers

[Ralph]

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer.
You can buy and use OEM copies of Windows, although officially, you are only supposed to do this if you are making hardware changes, ie., building your own PC.
I bought an OEM copy of XP Pro and it installed and authorised perfectly, and it continues to run and update (automatically or manually) flawlesly. Go for the OEM disc and number, it will be fine and perfectly legal.